Editor-in-Chief Tschabalala Self and artist Dread Scott discuss the All African People’s Consulate, a conceptual artwork taking the form of a bureaucratic office at the 60th Venice Biennale.
The consulate functions as an invented Pan-African, Afrofuturist union of countries, promoting cultural and diplomatic relations. In a departure from traditional immigration barriers, the consulate stands as a welcoming beacon, offering visitors a space for dialogue, interaction, and, for those of Pan-African descent, the possibility of acquiring an All African People’s Community passport — all others are welcome to apply for visas.
The project stands in a long history of activations, performance and happenings organized by Scott, who consistently optimistic visions of the black-future through mining and representing the Black-past. Some of Scott's most notable previous projects include: What is the Proper Way to Display the US Flag, A Man was Lynched by Police Yesterday and Slave Rebellion Reenactment.
The All African People’s Consulate was conceived by Dread Scott and curated by Paul Bright with the support of Wake Forest University, Cristin Tierney Gallery, The Africa Center, and Open Society Foundations. The project is currently installed at Castello Gallery, a collateral event space for the Venice Biennale.
